By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

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Independent/Barrett Stinson Hall County Corrections Director Fred Ruiz (not wearing hat) explains the new work release area at the new Hall County jail during a tour of the facility on Wednesday. Ruiz wants to give as many public tours as possible before inmates move into the facility around June. Independent/Barrett Stinson Tour participants (from left) Michael Morledge, Wayne Brehm, Tricia Beem and Don Smith listen to Hall County Corrections Director Fred Ruiz (right) explain the features of one of two male minimum-security cell blocks. Click Thumbnails to View

Construction is to be substantially complete by the end of this month, but fixtures, furnishings and on-site training will consume another two months before inmates are moved in around June.

That means the bulk of the jail is accessible for viewing by the taxpayers who made the 300-bed facility a reality.

"We need to show it off," Corrections Director Fred Ruiz told the Hall County Board of Supervisors this week.

Ruiz wants community groups, civic organizations, nonprofit organizations and any group interested to come see the jail.

"I want to offer tours," he told supervisors.

"I do like to show this place off," Ruiz told a group on Wednesday.

He pointed out a large video visitation room at the front of the jail. It replaces the face-to-face visitation that inmates have now with friends and family. However, face-to-face visitations will still be allowed at select times, such as when a relative is coming to tell an inmate about a death in the family, Ruiz said.

A video arraignment room is also being prepared. It will reduce the frequency of inmates having to be taken to the Hall County Courthouse for court appearances.

"This is a more safe environment," tour participant Michael Morledge said.

Ruiz told supervisors on Tuesday that the video arraignment component is causing one of the most pressing facets of the construction. Renovations to the Hall County Courthouse are also needed where video arraignment equipment must be installed in courtrooms.

Busy court schedules have forced renovation work to be done at night and on weekends, Ruiz said.

He showed tour participants on Wednesday the master control room, which will be off limits to any public tour once it's outfitted with up to 100 cameras.

"It's a lot different than the other one," Wayne Brehm said as he entered the work release area of the jail.

The jail's kitchen and laundry rooms are built to a maximum capacity of 600 to accommodate future growth. The booking area has individual cells in which to segregate incoming inmates.

The new jail also has a medical and dental area away from the general population.

One of the most intriguing areas to the tour participants was the "outdoor recreation" area connected to inmate cell blocks. It's a room with four concrete walls, concrete ceiling, two windows and a garage door along the ceiling. The garage door can open to allow "fresh air" in through a metal grate.

"This is the standard for outdoor?" Tricia Beem asked.

"This is depressing with only two little windows up there," tour participant Edith Robbins said.

"It's no frills in here. It's a jail," Ruiz said.

But what the jail does have is a safer environment for jail staff. Ruiz said 14 corrections officers have been hired. Nine more hires are coming to make a total officer count of 84.

"I am really impressed," former Mayor Ken Gnadt said.

The quality of the building is substantial and will serve the community long into the future, he said.

Ruiz hopes to bring in inmates from outside Hall County to help offset the cost. He also expects to bump the daily housing rate charged per day per inmate from $49.27 to $77.99 per inmate.

"It's quite a jump in rates," Ruiz said.

"I think it's terrific we have an opportunity to help underwrite some of the cost by having it large enough to take in prisoners from other counties, the state, federal or other entities," Beem said. "There are jails around the country that actually make money. From the taxpayer standpoint, that's a real win/win."